First Call: Steelers’ surprising 2021 Super Bowl odds; Alex Ovechkin nears Mario Lemieux
The odds to win the Super Bowl in 2021 are out. And it appears the oddsmakers have a lot of faith in Ben Roethlisberger making a healthy return. Let me rephrase. The oddsmakers seem to have a lot of faith in Steelers fans having a lot of faith in Ben...
First Call: Ray Shero fired. Rob Scuderi promoted. Potential Penguins trade target stays hot.
It’s a hockey-heavy “First Call” for Monday. Ray Shero is out in New Jersey. Rob Scuderi has been promoted in Nashville. A potential Penguins trade target is on fire. And the sport recognizes a music legend. Bedeviled Former Penguins general manager Ray Shero has been fired as GM of the...
Ray Shero, former Penguins GM, is out as New Jersey Devils’ general managerVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — Ray Shero was fired as the New Jersey Devils’ general manager after a four-plus year tenure that saw the three-time Stanley Cup champions make the playoffs only once. Owner Josh Harris announced the change less than 90 minutes before the struggling Devils were to face the Tampa...
NBC Sports’ Jeremy Roenick apologizes for inappropriate comments about co-workers
NBC Sports hockey analyst Jeremy Roenick posted a video saying he has apologized to his fellow broadcasters about inappropriate comments he made about them. “I never meant to offend anyone and I definitely went too far, and for that, I deeply regret it,” he said in a 45-second video posted...
Predators hire former Devils coach John Hynes as new coach
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators have hired former New Jersey Devils coach John Hynes as the third coach in franchise history after firing Peter Laviolette. The Predators announced the hiring Tuesday before a morning skate. Nashville hosts Boston on Tuesday night. “John Hynes is a bright young coach and...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell update, Connor McDavid’s unreal goal, ugly NBA injury videoVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” features one of what will be many Le’Veon Bell offseason updates. Connor McDavid’s potential “goal of the year.” Plus, the good, the bad and the ugly from the NBA. Making it work Is Le’Veon Bell staying with the New York Jets or not? That will be one...
In midst of slump, Nashville Predators fire coach Peter LavioletteVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville fired Peter Laviolette on Monday after he coached the Predators into the playoffs in each of the previous five seasons. Assistant coach Kevin McCarthy also was dismissed. The Predators (19-15-7) have dropped four of five heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Bruins. They are...
Stars rally to beat Predators at Winter Classic in front of 85,630 fansVideo
DALLAS — Dallas Stars interim coach Rick Bowness had just seen a very similar comeback by his team, though the surroundings for this one were drastically different. While pigs raced during timeouts next to the outdoor rink, which was built in the middle of a historic football stadium and framed...
2021 NHL Winter Classic headed to MinnesotaVideo
DALLAS — The 2021 NHL Winter Classic will be hosted by the Minnesota Wild at Target Field, the home stadium of the MLB’s Twins. NHL officials announced the site for next Winter Classic during this season’s game Wednesday at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Minnesota’s opponent for the next New...
First Call: Browns’ Baker Mayfield barks at fans; Bengals RB takes out ref; Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella epic rantVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” another epic postgame rant from John Tortorella. Another Saquon Barkley highlight. More comedy from the Bengals. And more yapping from Baker Mayfield. ‘Torts-ing’ it up one more time in 2019 Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went on one of his classic postgame tirades after a...
Blackhawks’ Brandon Saad out 3 weeks; Brent Seabrook done for season
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday announced Pine-Richland product Brandon Saad will be sidelined three weeks with a right ankle injury. The 27-year-old forward got hurt during last week’s 4-1 victory at Winnipeg. He has 11 goals and eight assists in 36 games this season. The news is much...
Lindsey Vonn proposes to P.K. Subban, saying men should get engagement rings, too
P.K. Subban got some new hardware over Christmas. The New Jersey Devils defenseman got a huge engagement ring from finance, former Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, according to posts on her social media pages. The couple, who have been together for two years, already announced their engagement in August, but Vonn...
Jeremy Roenick suspended by NBC Sports for inappropriate comments
Former NHL forward Jeremy Roenick was suspended indefinitely by NBC Sports on Monday for his inappropriate comments about coworkers. Roenick made a series of questionable remarks about fellow hockey broadcasters Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Sharp and Anson Carter during a recent appearance on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. An NBC Sports spokesman...
‘This is for real’ — journeyman Akim Aliu sparks hockey reckoningVideo
VAUGHAN, Ontario — There was no breaking point or seminal moment that prompted Akim Aliu to post two tweets less than a minute apart that would rock the NHL in a matter of hours. Aliu was scrolling through the timeline on his phone when he saw a report of how...
Coyotes acquire Taylor Hall from Devils for picks, prospects
The Arizona Coyotes are looking to end their lengthy playoff drought by adding a player desperate to get back to the postseason himself. Arizona acquired standout winger Taylor Hall from the New Jersey Devils on Monday for three prospects and two draft picks. The Coyotes will try to end their...
Mark Madden: Getting scratched, yelled at doesn’t qualify as ‘abuse’ in NHL
Hockey is a physical, grueling sport. Those who play it are tough. So why do they need a help line? NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently instituted measures to curb coaching misconduct. Among those measures is a help line that current or former players can use anonymously to report abuse. No...
First call: Goodell on Antonio Brown’s status, Chara fights Wilson, hoops player knocks out ref
Thursday’s “First Call” looks at the NFL’s continued attempts to wait out Antonio Brown’s social media insanity. A college basketball player accidentally punches out an official. Le’Veon Bell continues to brag about his second career as a bowler. Lamar Jackson may play against the Jets after all. Tom Wilson fights...
Sharks fire coach Peter DeBoer; ex-Penguin Bob Boughner likely to take over
The slumping San Jose Sharks fired coach Peter DeBoer on Wednesday less than seven months after playing in the Western Conference final. A person with direct knowledge of the move said the team decided to let DeBoer go with the team on a five-game losing streak out five points out...
Dallas Stars fire Jim Montgomery for unprofessional conduct
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars fired second-year coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday for what the team called unprofessional conduct. General manager Jim Nill said Montgomery had acted inconsistently with “core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League.” He did not elaborate. Nill said he became...
Hershey hockey fans set world record by tossing over 45,000 stuffed animals on iceVideo
If there’s one thing Hershey, Pa., does right it’s … well, it’s chocolate. But followed closely behind that is tossing stuffed animals onto a hockey rink. If you’ve never experienced the Teddy Bear Toss first-hand or even seen it on video, it’s an incredible sight to behold. The idea is...
Father of former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury dies
The father of former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has died, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Friday. Vegas Golden Knights beat reporter Ben Gotz reported Andre Fleury passed away Wednesday at age 63. According to Gotz, Marc-Andre Fleury left the Golden Knights’ road trip for Quebec on Tuesday because of...
Flames coach Bill Peters quits; accused of slurs, abuse
Bill Peters resigned as coach of the Calgary Flames on Friday after allegedly making racist slurs at a Nigerian-born player in the minors and kicking and punching players behind the bench during his time with Carolina. General manager Brad Treliving said he received a resignation letter from Peters that wraps...
Bill Peters not with Flames at practice amid allegations of using racial slur
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving says coach Bill Peters remains on the staff but wasn’t certain whether he’d be behind the bench for the next game. The team and the NHL are both investigating an allegation that Peters directed racial slurs at a player 10 years...
First Call: Baker Mayfield’s skills, ruffled Raven, Casey DeSmith highlightsVideo
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at what Baker Mayfield is doing right lately for the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens and Rams weren’t happy with each other after their Monday night game. And Casey DeSmith sparkles in the AHL. Keep an eye on it Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield got...
Underperforming Maple Leafs fire coach Mike Babcock
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs fired coach Mike Babcock and replaced him with Sheldon Keefe. Babcock had a record of 9-10-4 in 2019-20 for the struggling Leafs, who are 0-5-1 in their last six games, including five straight losses in regulation. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan flew to Arizona...
